These are a few of my favorite things [reasons]

November 11, 2015

These are a few of my favorite things [reasons]

One of the many reasons I enjoy doing what I do is that I'm housed at my alma mater, Berea College. For those of you that may not know my "Berea" story, I'll give you the abridged version: I graduated in 2012 with my BA in Biology (yes, BA, not BS. Don't start), after initially entering as an ag major (That's another story for another day). To say Berea was a godsend is an understatement: our junior year of high school, my parents were faced with the seemingly impossible task of sending not one, but two children to college. Although they consistently emphasized and encouraged "Go anywhere you want, we will find a way to pay for it"...still. College is not cheap, just in case y'all didn't get the memo. So when we visited Berea for the first time in March of 2007, from the moment I stepped on campus, I was in love: with the campus, the mission, the zero-tuition, the atmosphere. I knew if I attended Berea, I would be a part of something special. And now, almost eight years later since that day, I still find that to be very true.

I don't know where it came from, but I got it in my head somewhere during my junior year that I wanted to end up working at Berea someday. I applied for many positions from that time until months after graduation, but I was passed over, never even getting an interview during that time. After a few years of working various jobs and still diligently seeking out opportunities at Berea, I finally came across an AmeriCorps VISTA opportunity and....well....I'm sure you can figure out the rest :) I wish I could say the transition from VISTA to staff member was seamless, but it was far from it. But that's life in an academic setting/exiting out of a government position, and now I am settled, mostly adjusted, and still deliriously happy most days. Which leads me to this post...

About a month ago I attended a professional development workshop, and there was a brief presentation from a development officer. I've always felt an innate drive to give back, and when I first got hired on at Berea, I thought "Finally! Now I'm working at my alma mater as an alumni-turned-staff; what better way to give back than through my work?" But as I was listening to this presentation from the development officer, she mentioned that staff members had the opportunity to give to Berea College via payroll deduction. That was my light bulb moment. My edited thought process from previous was now: "Finally! Now I'm working at my alma mater as an alumn-turned-staff; what better way to give back than through my work AND my money, so that a future student can have the same opportunity that I had?" I filled out the little slip and that was that.

Last week I received a note, a handwritten note, mind you, through Grow's CPO, from Berea's president:

In case you can't read it: It is so encouraging that you as a recent grad and new employee are contributing. Thanks SO much!

Ok, hands up: How many college graduates can say that not only do they WORK for the university/school they graduated from, but receive handwritten notes from their college president? I'm willing to be not many. This semi-rhetorical question got me thinking: Why do I fancy Berea so much? I have quite a long list of reasons, but here are a few:

1. The extent to what I learned at Berea goes far beyond what the letters on my transcript might read. I'll be the first to admit that my grades at Berea sucked. If you graduated from Berea with anything higher than a 3.5 GPA, you are, in my own opinion, your own level of genius and I applaud you heartily. But despite the C's littered throughout, I was stretched and challenged by my coursework to a much greater extent than I would have been elsewhere. I had to think, really think about things, and sometimes I had to alter my thinking completely to put forth the quality of work that was expected of me. I learned that if you think you're a good writer before coming to Berea, you're probably not. Berea sets the bar VERY high on all levels, not just academics, and if you don't meet those standards, or at show that you are busting your butt to try your darndest to meet those standards, then you will not be successful. A lot of folks I knew learned that the hard way, and while I definitely had my share of those moments too, I'm grateful for the challenges I received.

2. Relationships at Berea go beyond just making friends. HOLE. EE. Crap. I could write a novel about this one, y'all. Let me start by saying that if you ask any alumni of Berea if they still keep in touch with their Berea friends, they will tell you yes. I truly believe that Bereans are friends for LIFE!!! Because of Berea, I have some of the greatest friends I could have ever asked for, and I am so proud of the paths they are on in their lives (I'm also super stoked that I'll get to see some of them this weekend...homecoming!!!). Beyond that, the relationships that I experienced with some of my professors, and what I still see even as an alum...nothing's changed! It's not uncommon for Berea students to be had over at professor's houses. I can't tell you, nowadays, how many students and professors I see at BC&T, having a cup of coffee together, talking about non-academic things. I spent many hours of my senior year holed up in my advisor's office, talking about literally anything and everything. My Berea experience was enriched for the better because of those conversations, and many others.

3. The dynamic is unmatched. As a staff member now, every single staff member I've met since making that transition seems truly, genuinely happy to be working here. Y'all...that. is. HUGE. I often pass by students, engaged in uplifting conversations with their friends, which means students are happy to be attending here as well. Again...that. is. HUGE. I realize that that's not the case for everyone. But once you spend enough time at Berea, you'll catch on fairly quickly- it's a pretty special place.

4. Inspiration. I'll wrap up with this reason. Have a conversation with anyone who works at Berea, or a Berea student, and I guarantee you that you will hear some pretty incredible stories behind those faces. I'm consistently inspired by the people of Berea College. Berea draws in a unique crowd. From a student standpoint, they're all on the same level. It's right there in the Great Commitments: Berea looks for students with "great promise and limited economic resource". No one cares how much money you have. Most Berea students, when you get right down to it, don't have anything physical to give at all. But they have heart, they have determination, they have a sense of pride in doing good work, and they want to become a part of the Berea story. They believe that "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth." To me, Berea is so much more than an institution...it's family.

P.S. Does anyone else think that the campus is probably one of the most beautiful college campuses ever, or is that just my unbiased opinion?